On Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 10:49 AM, Gerald Foodman <gfoodma_at_earthlink.net>wrote: > Seaworthy means more than just not sinking. For instance, a boat that > requires constant effort on one side in a cross wind is not seaworthy, nor > is a lee-cocker that cannot be turned up wind. Nor is one that quickly > broaches in following conditions. Nor is one that is so tender it requires > constant vigilance. > The best definition of "seaworthy" as far as I'm concerned is: ready for a voyage at sea. Matt's definition just simplifies that. I don't think it has anything to do with handling but simply means that a boat can undertake the task for which it was designed. A vessel that was once seaworthy may not be if maintenance has been neglected or if it has been modified. And a ship that rolls like a bitch can still be seaworthy. Any vessel can be overcome by sea conditions but in general I agree about the lee-cocking and weather-cocking. However I think the "tenderness" in kayaks is more of a performance issue to many kayakers. > > Seakindly seems to me just an expression of personal preference. Is > Freya's Epic more or less seakindly than her Explorer? Is your Mariner II > more or less seakindly than your Coaster? Is Doug's Nordkapp more seakindly > with its rudder than without? > Well, other than the rudder question, I'd agree with this. To me it means comfort. I've sailed in ships that were seaworthy but not seakindly and, in fact, I have slalomed in my stocking feet across the linoleum floor of my stateroom on a tanker that rolled 30 degrees from side-to-side. Luckily the chairs had rubber feet so I could use them as gates. That part was fun; trying to sleep wasn't. A boat that hobby-horses in a seaway or one that pounds going into a sea is not one I'd think of as seakindly but which might be, in all respects, seaworthy. In kayaks it's more personal. I like a dry ride so for me a boat that slices through waves would not be as seakindly as one that moves over them. Some would disagree with this, however. > > If responsiveness means easy turning, then a white water boat is more > responsive than a sea kayak. I would much prefer the Mariner II to the more > responsive Coaster for travelling A to B. A surf ski that quickly picks up > the smallest following sea is extremely responsive, yet difficult to turn. > Now you are really getting into personal preference. I've read statements from Doug Lloyd where he defines "responsive" as moving quickly from edge to edge. It seems to me that this would be a kayak that requires constant attention but some paddlers actually *like* that. I have always thought that a kayak that responds quickly and accurately to paddle strokes is "responsive". I wouldn't consider a surfski to be responsive if it's hard to turn... but I'd agree that it could be very responsive to the sea. Or even responsive in terms of accelerating quickly. In order to respond to the term "responsive" you have to understand exactly where the paddler is coming from. Until Doug wrote that I thought he was crazy thinking of his Nordy as "responsive". :D No single kayak will fit every definition of responsive or seakindly. And a brand new kayak with a leaking skeg box or hatch covers would not be seaworthy. It would probably sink. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Feb 22 2010 - 11:51:30 PST
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